Colorado Technical University

CNA>NT>LPN>RN> ......? How realistic is my plan? Any ideas to refine my plan to make it flow?

This is my current career track, I made it on my own. I chose this field because I am a caring patient compassionate person and taking care of others is more of a personal responsibility to me than a job and I had that one great AP teacher who helped me to grasp how your body works. I have attended a tech school for my CNA while working in elder home care. Now that I am almost finish my CNA courses, I was told a few area hospitals will hire and train me as a Nurse Tech. So while working in that I am considering an associate RN or LPN and from their I am kind of unsure. I have considered trying the ultrasounds and MRI type jobs they go through less school, take care of less patients it is not as demanding and it has a good future forecast it will also offer me the same ability to care for patient. I have spoken to people in the field, worked, and offered long term bedside care for a few friends & family members and I checked out Occupation Outlook Guide. I am interested in nursing for my near future (10-20 years) but I want the freedom to opt out in my later years (45 years old and beyond). I am also interested in teaching and I know that is possible with a BA. I am not really interested in going all the way up the normal nursing career ladder because I am not a very competitive person. I could see myself as a teacher, councilor maybe even a program director. I thrive in areas where I am free and able to be creative in a more relaxed regime and if it counts I still hate math. My greatest concern is going through school and still having my options boxed into one job (and a truly demanding one at that). Also the school to benefit factor plays a strong role I want each educational pursuit to bring a greater return than the last. Since the medical field is a specific field I wonder if I will be able to move around in different fields (not conclusive to nursing). I do not want my career to be a student, I need a career where I can get in get out then work and eventually retire comfortably with time to explore my zany interest (such as running my own summer camp maybe even a boarding school for teen moms and their babies or even just a private preschool) . I am a wife and mother so I am working around a family and my career choices have to revolve around the ability to work while learning and raising a family. ADVISE,ADVISE ADVISE..... My goal is to get a realistic grasp of how to pursue my interest and get a *fluid* career path that embraces my needs, personality and interest even if that means going back to square one ( I need a ABC instructions plain simple and to the point to stay on track)

Public Comments

1. you forgot to add "exotic dancing"
2. Sweetie, with all seriousness, go straight for RN. I too, am a CNA but learned really quickly that it is a complete waste of time and cash to go to school to become an LPN unless you plan to remain a LPN for life. Please understand the USA is eliminating the LPN positions in hospitals, and doctor's offices. The only LPN jobs to remain will be pill passers in nursing homes. Do the research if you don't believe me. I sure did a ton of research since college isn't cheap and this is my future we are talking about. A nurse tech requires some schooling and more responsibility but it doesn't truly pay a lot more than a CNA, in my statew it's about 75 cents more. Your CNA pay rate of course is based on your state of employment which might not have a high demand for CNAs, but I quickly learned after a few years as a CNA, I am making more than fresh out of school LPNs and NTs. My advice, if you truly want to be a RN...go for it right away!
3. IF you wish to be a nurse, then go straight for the RN--this can be at a community college--its an associate RN, but still an RN. Don't waste time on the lower level courses & training (and $). However, if you want to do ultrasound, MRI and the other things you mentioned, that is an entirely different training route. Every job practically in the med field has its own training & licensure; you can not "fluidly" switch from one to another with out starting anew. You are a bit scattered in your career aspirations though & will need to sort them out because you will need different training & education to achieve some of them. To teach, particularly at a nursing school will require, more than likely in the future a masters & probably a doctorate in nursing.